Number-plate support for vehicles.



W. B. HUGHES.

NUMBER PLATE SUPPORT FOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION ZILED FEB.17,1909.

Patented June 21, 1910.

WILLIAM B. HUGHES,

OF CLEVELAND,

OHIO.

NUMBER-PLATE SUPPORT FOR vnnionns.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VILLIAM B. HUGHES, acitizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Number-Plate Supports for Vehicles, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to supporting devices or brackets, and more particularly to devices of this kind which are adapted for use with automobiles to support the number plates applied thereto; also to a support of this kind which is particularly well adapted for the purpose of carrying both a lamp and a number plate.

Among the objects of my invention are the provision of a bracket or support which possesses a wide range of adaptability for use with such number plates, enabling it to accommodate plates of various lengths and support the same at varying angles.

A further object of the invention is to provide a support or bracket of this kind which, while simple and economical of production, may be readily applied to and removed from the vehicle with which it is to be used and which is provided with means whereby the number plate and lamp may be supported in such manner as to secure efficient illumination of said plate and the numbers thereon.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a bracket of this kind which is of well-nigh universal application.

lVith the above general objects in view, the invention may be defined further as consisting of the combinations of elements embodied in the claims hereto annexed and illustrated, in one exemplification, in the drawings forming a part hereof, wherein Figure 1 represents an elevation of the bracket, with a lamp and number plate supported thereby; Fig. 2 represents a top plan view of the devices shown in the preceding figure; and Fig. 3 a detail in perspective of the bracket shown in the preceding figures.

Describing the parts by reference characters, 1 denotes generally the supporting device, the same being shown as an angular bracket comprising a pair of arms 2 and 3 extending generally at right angles to each Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 17, 1909.

Patented June 21, 1910.

Serial No. 478,390.

other. The arm 2 is provided with an upwardly projecting postat at the end remote from the unction with the arm 3. The latter arm is provided with a socketed connecting member 5 at the lower portion of the end which is remote from arm 2. This member is provided with a horizontal socket 6 and with a vertical socket, which is shown as occupied by the pin or post 7 projecting upwardly from a bracket 8 of the vehicle to which my device may be applied. The bores of the two sockets intersect, and a set screw 9 is provided, the inner end of which may be projected into the intersecting bores, to secure the bracket rigidly either to a horizontal or vertical post, as occasion may require.

1O denotes a standard projecting upwardly from the end of arm 3 which is remote from arm 2, said standard being provided with a horizontal socket member 11. This socket member has a bore which is preferably rectangular in section and is provided with a set screw 12 which is adapted to engage the rod 13 by means of which the number plate is supported. The arms 2 and 3, post l, standard 10, and socket members and 11 are preferably formed as an integral casting.

let denotes the number plate, the same being of any standard type and being shown as provided with a pair of elongated slots 15 beneath the upper edge thereof. This plate is supported from the rod 13 by means of a. pair of socket members 16 which are sleeved upon said rod and each provided with a set screw 17 by means of which it may be clamped securely to said rod. Each of the socket members 16 is provided with a projection 18 having an elongated face adapted to bear against, and conforming in shape to, the rear face of the number plate (the term rear being employed to designate that side of the plate which is opposite the numberbearing side). The projection 18 is reduced in thickness at its upper end and is provided with a bore for the reception of a bolt 19, said bolt having a head 20 adapted to bear against the front of the number plate and being provided with a nut 21 by means of which the plate may be securely clamped to the elongated face of the socket member 16.

22 denotes a lamp, which is shown as an ordinary oil-burning lamp having a burner 23. This lamp is provided with the usual socket clamp 2e and set screw 25 for the reception of the lamp-post which is generally provided on automobiles. The post 4, in my construction, takes the place of the lamppost 7 which is ordinarily provided and thus adapts my supporting device to be applied to the lamp support with which said vehicles are generally provided.

The socket members 11 and 16 are provided each with a rectangular bore. This provides two spaced lines of contact between the rod 13 and each of said bores, when the rod is operated upon by the set screws 12 and 17. This construction affords an efficient clamping means whereby rotation of the rod in the socket 11 and rotation of the number plate upon said rod are prevented.

It will be observed that the point at which the bracket is supported by the lamp-post 7 is intermediate between the number plate and rod 13 on one side and the lamp 22 on the other side. By this construction the lamp and number plate serve to balance each other, thereby relieving the lamp post and the connecting member 5 of breaking strain. It will be further observed that the socket members 16 are adjustable both longitudinally and rotarily with respect to the rod 13. This accommodates my supporting device for various styles and lengths of number plates and also enables the plates to be tilted at the most eflicient angle with respect to the lamp for illumination and inspection. It also will be observed that the parts are so arranged that the body of the flame from the burner is substantially in line with the horizontal center line of the plate, insuring the most efficient illumination of the numbers thereon.

By the construction described and illustrated herein, it will be apparent that I have provided a supporting device which is of substantially universal application, which can be applied to and removed from existing vehicles without altering the construction thereof, and which will form an extremely eificient support not only for the number plate but also for the lamp.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a device of the character set forth, the combination of a bracket having means whereby it may be attached to a vehicle, a horizontal socket carried by said bracket, a rod supported in said socket, a number plate, and means for supporting the same from said rod, said means comprising a pair of socket members connected to said plate, and set screws securing said members to said rod.

2. A device of the character described comprising a bracket having a pair of angularly arranged members, an upwardly projecting lamp support at the end of one of the members, an attaching device at the end of the other member provided with intersecting horizontal and vertical bores, a set screw adjustable transversely of both of said bores, a horizontally arranged socket above the attaching device, a rod adjustably mounted in said socket, and a number plate on said rod.

3. A device of the character set forth comprising a base having at one end thereof a vertically extending socket and at its other end a lamp-supporting post, said post being offset with respect to said socket, a horizontal socket above the first-mentioned socket, a rod mounted in the second socket, a number plate, and means for rigidly and adjustably securing said plateto said rod.

4. In a device of the character set forth, the combination of a bracket having a base, said base having a lamp support and a number-plate support, and means whereby said bracket may be secured to a vehicle, the number-plate support comprising a rod, one or more sockets on said rod, means whereby said sockets may be rigidly secured to said rod, a number plate, and a connection between each socket and the plate, said connection allowing a longitudinal movement between the socketand the plate.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses. WILLIAM B. HUGHES.

Vitnesses J. B. HULL, BRENNAN B. VVEs'r. 

